lifeboat rescue

A kite surfer has paid tribute to the work of a Walmer
Lifeboat crew after he was rescued after becoming entangled in his
rigging.
Many visitors to the seafront raised the alarm after seeing the man
in trouble just north of Deal Pier.
Andy Roberts, the RNLI volunteer press officer at Walmer, said the
emergency services had numerous 999 calls about the surfer, who was
visiting east Kent from his home in London.
Mr Roberts added: “When the lifeboat arrived the casualty was in
the water with his leg heavily tangled in the rigging of the kite
and he was unable to help himself.
“The lifeboat got him and his equipment on board and took him to
the beach by Sandown Castle where the crew spent more than an hour
disentangling the lines that were wrapped around his leg.
“He was extremely grateful and very aware he could not have got
back to safety unaided.”